COSTCO AIMS TO BEAT EVERYONE ON PRICE

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Costco Wholesale has a simple mission -- to try to bring goods to market at a lower price than anyone else -- Jim Sinegal told an industry audience here."That's our No. 1 business imperative, and all our energy goes into doing that," Sinegal, the president and chief executive officer of Costco, based in Issaquah, Wash., explained. "It may be simple-minded, but that's what we do."We

"That's our No. 1 business imperative, and all our energy goes into doing that," Sinegal, the president and chief executive officer of Costco, based in Issaquah, Wash., explained. "It may be simple-minded, but that's what we do.

"We carry high-quality national brands, and if we can't be competitive, we'll d